Two convicts found dead in stormwater drain at Tihar Jail

Officials also said that it is unlikely that the inmates were cleaning the drain

New Delhi | August 9, 2025 05:30 IST

The Tihar Jail administration has launched a departmental inquiry to find out if there was any negligence or procedural lapses on the part of jail staff (File Photo)

Two murder convicts, lodged in Tihar Jail, died on Friday morning after they allegedly slipped and drowned in a stormwater drain inside the prison complex, officials said. A judicial inquiry and a police investigation have been launched in the matter.

According to sources, the incident took place around 8.30 am in Jail 8 when the inmates, identified as Amit and Vinay Kumar, were in the court mauka area — a patrolling area between the outer and inner boundary walls of the jail complex.

“The court mauka area is generally used for patrolling. The watchtowers are also placed there. Over time, we have developed a patch in that area, where prisoners grow vegetables,” said a source.

“This morning, a guard posted at a watchtower reported that a convict had slipped and fallen into a drain… the drain is at least 15-foot-deep… it was probably filled with rainwater. The other inmates raised an alarm and everyone rushed to the man’s aid. The other convict might have gone to rescue the one who fell,” said the officer.

Both were subsequently rescued and rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where the doctors declared them dead.

The Tihar Jail administration has launched a departmental inquiry to find out if there was any negligence or procedural lapses on the part of jail staff.

Pending the outcome of the inquiry, three prison officials — a deputy superintendent, an assistant superintendent, and the warden in-charge — have been placed under suspension.

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Officials also said that it is unlikely that the inmates were cleaning the drain. “The drain is maintained by the PWD (Public Works Department). Besides, it is too deep to be manually cleaned without super sucker machines,” said the source.

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